While it could be argued that the biggest problem facing a show like Veep is how to satirise the US presidency at a time when even admitting to grabbing women by the you-know-what can still get you elected.
But Donald Trump’s surprise ascendency to the Oval Office has given the other great POTUS programme of our time a new sense of currency, with House of Cards fifth season trailer showcasing a more ruthless and power hungry president than ever before.
This time, though, Frank Underwood’s invective and loathing are spat at the American voters he needs to court in order to re-secure the White House for four more years. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright reprise their Golden Globe-winning roles as Francis and Claire Underwood, now running on the same ticket as husband and wife, President and Vice-President.
House of Cards’ executive producer Melissa James Gibson recently spoke about some of the unplanned by undeniable comparisons between Underwood’s power seizure and the new administration.
“Sure, the resonance sometimes feels eerie,” she said. “But Trump is an outsider who’s trying to blow up the system. And Francis is the opposite. The battlefield for season five is the American psyche. That may be one parallel with our real world.”
As the show that launched Netflix around the world, House of Cards returns for its 13-episode run on May 30th. Take a look at the trailer in full below:
